wateroftyne

I was under the impression that It was pretty much any AB / Class D head with a tube pre. I'm not saying I'm right, because I suspect you know different. What's the facts?

This was my impression of most starved plate applications - it was a marketing exercise. But maybe that's not the case?

[quote name='BassApprentice' timestamp='1492597263' post='3281456'] In before someone suggests Maruszczyk [/quote] Me too! Maruszczyk. Drat. I beat myself to it.

[quote name='ribbetingfrog' timestamp='1492283973' post='3279249'] [url="https://youtu.be/Hu0u0XvvWu0"]https://youtu.be/Hu0u0XvvWu0[/url] Saw these guys in bass guitar magazine. Neo medieval folk band from Ukraine who have a drummer and three bass players but the drummer sometimes plays bass too! Amazing what can be done with only basses. [/quote] If David Brent formed a folk band, it would sound like this.

[quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1492204278' post='3278727'] Not heard of half of the acts on the bill [/quote] Which means you [i]have[/i] heard of 50+ of them. Not a bad line-up for you, eh?

Just listen to any of Adam Clayton's lines. He pretty much channels J.S. Bach.

I've been playing for about 30 years myself, and this is first amp I've had that sounds exactly like I want my amp to sound like... and still makes me smile a year later. It's taken a while to get to this point!

Absolutely - it sounds bloody great, though 🙂

Yep, it sounds like a great combo (pun half-intended), Just drop him a mail at [email protected] - he's very helpful. (Just to clear up any confusion from other posts - I'm not a representative of the company. I'm just a happy customer..!)

I think that's probably a question for the chap who built the amp...?

Only if the picture makes sense. Explain yourself... 🙂

Hmmm...?

He's not named anything - it's my own understanding that most tube pre's are starved plate. Is that not right? As far as I know The Walkabout, MPULSE 600, Warwick Tubepath and the R400 are full voltage, and from memory I like the way they break up compared to, say, the SS Ampegs and Class D's I've owned previously. I'm genuinely happy to be edumacated otherwise, though...?

...but I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the subject.

I have no idea - I didn't build the amp. I have no reason to doubt the word of the chap who built it, though. 🙂

Ha ha... sorry 🙂

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1491991780' post='3276969'] I've got Dupuytren's Envy now... [/quote] Dupuytrenvy.

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1491989438' post='3276934'] Just had an email from Adrian that FedEx were there, so he's shipped it already - ETA Friday! [url="http://s308.photobucket.com/user/ezbass/media/7A0DA3C9-DFFA-4AD9-ADEE-594A1C9F5485_zpsrztvwc3d.jpg.html"][/url] [/quote] Yay! But... Friday? *whispers* [size=3]It's good Friday. Does that change anything?[/size]

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1491983620' post='3276872'] You wouldn't believe how shocked you will be when you find out the secret. [/quote] Eventually we'll develop an immunity to this sort of tone-of-voice, forcing advertisers will have to find another way to get our attention. And so it goes on...

FWIW, the R-400 has a Baxandall tone stack. It's unbelievably simple, but it works so well.

Maybe not magic, but the pre of the WA (and even more so the R-400 IMO) is fairly unique 'cos they're not starved plate. They're rich, dynamic and clear.

[quote name='Al Krow' timestamp='1491931821' post='3276608'] Hah! It's funny how I didn't really take on board your April 16 Handbox thread, WoT, until now, but I've just spent an enjoyable half an hour catching up![/quote] Happy to help! I'm conscious that I shout about the R-400 a lot on BC, but I think it's such a remarkable bit of kit I can't help shouting it from the rooftops :-) [quote name='Al Krow' timestamp='1491931821' post='3276608'] A bit like sratas I LOVE the Mesa tone, which in the case of my M6 Carbine is just a single 12AX7 preamp into a MOSfet main amp but manages to deliver a just deliciously creamy tone. I was kinda wondering what else might be out there that could match or beat that? I think the valve guys are saying nothing compares to valves. I was also wondering whether a great preamp pedal would similarly deliver that sound when combined with a Class D (or better still a Class A/B ) power amp, and I am sure there are plenty more views to be shared on the topic. But I think you are saying, unequivocally, as a fellow Mesa owner that the Handbox as a hybrid [with 3 tube pre-amp into Class A/B] trumps the Mesa for sound and is better value! Well you've certainly got my attention!! [/quote] Yep, unequivocally. IME it has everything that makes the WA great, with the bonus of more headroom and - if needed - more presence in the upper mids. [quote name='Al Krow' timestamp='1491931821' post='3276608'] Is anyone stocking these in the UK? Have you come across the Handbox Fortec 412 Custom combo? Any details, or price - is it the R-400 in combo form? Worst case, my drummer in my rock n roll band is Polish...I may need to send her shopping next time she visits Poland! [/quote] There's no UK stockist at the moment - I know a couple of interested parties were talking to Leszek a while ago, but I'm not sure if it came to anything. TBH it's easy enough to order direct from him (but obviously trying one first is tricky!), The Fortec 412 isn't the R-400 - it's another class AB with a solid-state pre, which I have no experience of. (Incidentally, Maruszczyk also sell a rebranded version, the [url="https://www.public-peace.de/index.php/amplification/maruszczyk-instruments/967-barabass-combo-black"]Barabass[/url]). Apologies for going OT :-)

The Handbox R-400 takes the Mesa Walkabout thing a step further, IMO. Class AB power, three full-voltage tubes in the pre - none of this starved plate nonsense - and noticeably more clean headroom, in a similar-sized package. Lots of rich tone, and it gets nicely fuzzy when you push the pre. Oh, and it's reasonably priced, too.

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1491896674' post='3276147'] There is at least one venue in these parts where the landlord won't consider booking a band he hasn't heard before without a CD. He reckons he is working 15 hour days and doesn't have time to watch web based promos. [/quote] It it an originals venue, or a covers gig?

[quote name='funkydario' timestamp='1491894548' post='3276131'] Just a simple question guys...truss rod is inverted in Adrian's basses....did I understand that right ?? [/quote] Definitely on the Jakes. Can't speak for the others.